STRATEGIC PLAN 2026 - 2028
Acknowledgement of Country
St Mary’s College respectfully acknowledges and pays respects to the traditional custodians of this land, the Giabal and Jarowair peoples of the Western Wakka Wakka Nation who long before us, lived and learned, loved and raised their children on this land.
Let us sense the land beneath our feet, acknowledge to whom it belongs, and pay our respects to the Elders past and present.
For we too are one in land, one spirit, one in faith united in God’s love.
In the words of the Wakka Wakka language, “Yah-naan-day gum-bah ngay” Let us all strive for the crown
About Us
St Mary’s College is proudly a Catholic school for boys from Years 5 to 12 in the Diocese of Toowoomba and an Associate School of Edmund Rice Australia.
We provide boys the opportunity to achieve excellence in all areas of their holistic education guided by our Four Touchstones: Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity, and Liberating Education.
At St Mary’s College, we focus on and are experts in boys education, offering diverse, relevant, and modern learning experiences as well as extracurricular activities.
Founded in Toowoomba in 1899, St Mary’s College has been a vital contributor to the education of young men in regional Queensland for over 125 years.
Leadership Statement
St Mary’s College Toowoomba stands upon the shoulders of the Christian Brothers, who founded the College more than 125 years ago. Today, St Mary’s continues to honour our founding Brothers and Toowoomba Catholic Education by offering an education that recognises Jesus in the everyday, and forming students capable of shaping a more loving, just, and compassionate world.
As a Toowoomba Catholic School and a proud Edmund Rice Associate School, we are committed to providing a holistic Catholic education tailored to boys, nurturing faith, and fostering character forged on the values of integrity, action, and excellence.
We draw strength and wisdom from our rich history and the strong legacy of our ‘Old Boys’, whose lives demonstrate the transformative power of a Catholic Education. This Strategic Plan, Men for Tomorrow: A Future with Integrity, will continue to build on this legacy by preparing our young men to engage with a rapidly changing world, contribute meaningfully to society, and develop the skills and values to live with purpose and compassion.
This three-year plan (2026-2028) builds on the strong foundations of previous planning cycles and aims to activate
“It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.” - Bishop Kenneth Untener
the aspirations outlined in the College’s Shared Vision Imagining 2035. Guided by the collective wisdom of our students, staff, families, alumni and Advisory Council, the plan charts a confident path forward.
This plan emphasises a future-focused education, meaningful partnerships, shaping young men into courageous leaders for tomorrow, and celebrating our identity and story within the community.
St Mary’s College remains deeply committed to its mission while courageously embracing the future. With faith in God’s presence and the guidance of our community, we will continue to shape lives of faith, integrity, action, and excellence for today and for generations to come.
I thank everyone within the St Mary’s College community for their contributions to this three-year plan and our shared vision, Imagining 2035. I look forward to working with you to inspire lifelong learning, strong values and an exciting future for our young men.
Brendan Stewart College Principal
Vision
To form Men for Tomorrow, who will realise their God-given potential and act with courage to build a more loving, just, and compassionate world.
Men for Tomorrow are:
Men of Faith, who...
• Are grounded in spiritual belief and guided by Gospel values of love, justice, peace and compassion.
• Respond to others with kindness and draw strength from prayer and tradition.
Men of Integrity, who…
• Act with honesty, responsibility, and kindness, always having the courage to choose what is right over what is easy.
• Are accountable, trustworthy, and respectful of others’ dignity.
Men of Action, who…
• Are resilient and proactive, stepping forward when others hesitate or turn away.
• Contribute to the community and serve others’ best interests.
Men of Excellence, who…
• Always strive to obtain their full potential to be their best selves.
• Are guided by humility and purpose and bring out the best in others.
Mission
Provide a contemporary Catholic Education in the Edmund Rice Tradition to shape young men of faith, integrity, action, and excellence.
Values
Our ethos of Brotherhood encompasses our values of faith, integrity, action, and excellence. Being brothers to one another is more than just friendship; it means forming right relationships, deep connections, loyalty, and support among students. Brotherhood is the living expression of the relationships, shared values, and spirit of unity that set St Mary’s apart.
Faith is the foundation of life at St Mary’s College. It influences who we are and guides our actions, especially in our commitment to helping others. Founded on Catholic teachings and the Jesus story, our faith provides our community with a sense of purpose and a moral compass that directs us daily.
Integrity forms the core of good character. Our community members are encouraged to act with honesty, accept responsibility, and demonstrate moral courage. At St Mary’s College, this means living according to our values in everyday decisions, being trustworthy and accountable for our actions, and treating others fairly and with respect.
At St Mary’s College, Action is demonstrated through service. Our dedication to others is grounded in the living expression of Gospel values and the Edmund Rice Touchstones, where compassion becomes meaningful action. We are all encouraged to stand in solidarity with those on the margins, contribute to the common good, and show empathy and generosity in all we do.
Everyone in our community is encouraged to reach their full potential. Excellence means striving for high standards with resilience, determination, and a dedication to giving one’s best. At St Mary’s College, this is reflected through our motto Conanti Corona –“The crown goes to the one who strives.”
Our Touchstones
As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition, we aspire to be faithful to these four Touchstones:
Liberating Education
Empowered by liberating teaching and learning experiences, we open our hearts and minds, so that we are hopefilled and free to build a better world for all.
Gospel Spirituality
Jesus’ invitation to love, justice, compassion, peace and faith, calls us to life-giving relationships within our communities and the wider world.
Inclusive Community
We welcome and celebrate diversity in our local, national and global communities, responsive to each person’s aspirations and needs, and committed to the common good.
Justice and Solidarity
We are committed to local and global justice and peace, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection, inspiring us to listen to, walk with and learn from all creation, especially those who experience powerlessness.
The Icon That Shapes Our Vision
This icon tells the story of a Catholic boys school shaped by the Edmund Rice Tradition - a tradition that calls young men to grow into “Men for Tomorrow.”
At its centre lies the radiant star, a symbol drawn from the Christian Brothers’ heritage and inspired by the calling: “He who instructs others will shine like a star for all eternity.” (Daniel 12:3) This star reminds every student that a life lived with faith, action, excellence and integrity continues to illuminate long after each action is taken.
The cross beneath the design anchors the entire narrative, symbolising that faith in Jesus underpins all that the College undertakes. It affirms that every lesson taught, every relationship formed, and every challenge embraced is grounded in a Gospelinspired way of being. The cross itself, as well as the decorative patterns, reference the Celtic Irish heritage, reflecting a worldview Edmund Rice himself cherished. In the Celtic imagination, the spiritual, natural, and human realms are deeply intertwined - each shaping the other, each pointing toward God’s enduring presence.
The Celtic knot’s seamless loops remind the community that faith is lived not in isolation but in the interweaving of daily life, relationships, and creation. Encircling this spiritual centre are the Edmund Rice Education Touchstones: Gospel Spirituality, Justice and Solidarity, Inclusive Community, and Liberating Education. These values become lived commitments, forming the foundation for educating boys with integrity, courage, and compassion.
Finally, the word “Brotherhood,” stamped boldly over the cross’s foundation, captures the lived experience of the school’s mission. It speaks of connection, loyalty, and mutual support - an invitation to each young man not only to grow individually but to walk with and for others. Through this image, the community claims its identity: a brotherhood grounded in faith, shaped by tradition and committed to forming men who will shine into tomorrow.
Strategic Roadmap
The Strategic ‘Road Map’ for St Mary’s College is founded on a clear appreciation of our current and future internal and external environments. Our response to those environments and realisations of Vision, Mission and Desired Future will be delivered through the achievement of our five Strategic Initiatives.
Strategic Initiatives
Inspiring Learners for Life
St Mary’s College will empower students to be confident, independent, and reflective learners who thrive in a changing world. Our teaching will be grounded in evidence-based practice for boys’ learning and supported through technology, data and contemporary pedagogy that promotes adaptability, agency, and achievement.
To achieve this strategic priority, we will:
• Implement a St Mary’s College Learning Passport
• Use learning data effectively to guide progress
• Purposefully integrate emerging technologies
• Explicitly define learning pathways
• Embed evidence-informed teaching and learning practices by leveraging the “Science of Learning” principles
Shaping Men for Tomorrow
St Mary’s College will develop young men who are resilient, respectful and inclusive, growing in faith, integrity, action and excellence. Relationships will be grounded in the example of Jesus and supported through co-ordinated pastoral care, student formation and the consistent application of expectations.
To achieve this strategic priority, we will:
• Strengthen Restorative Thinking Practices (RTP)
• Implement a Whole-School Mentoring Framework
• Clarify and embed “Men for Tomorrow” expectations
• Implement coherent Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to enhance the academic success, pastoral care and wellbeing of each student
“We water seeds already planted, knowing they hold future promise.” - Bishop Kenneth Untener
Building Professional Capacity
St Mary’s College will invest in a high-performing workforce where staff feel valued, supported and equipped to deliver outstanding education for boys. We will cultivate a culture of shared learning, evidence-based practice and strong collaboration across the school.
To achieve this strategic priority, we will:
• Enhance delivery of SMC Signature Practices
• Develop leadership capability at all levels
• Strengthen recruitment, induction & retention
• Formalise the Professional Learning Teams (PLT) process
“We are prophets of a future not our own.”
- Bishop Kenneth Untener
Creating a Future-Focused Environment
St Mary’s College will create contemporary learning environments that inspire curiosity, collaboration and belonging. We will design spaces and pursue partnerships that support sustainable growth, strengthen community connection and enhance opportunities for every student.
To achieve this strategic priority, we will:
• Strengthen financial sustainability
• Enhance values-aligned partnerships
• Review and update the Master Plan
• Formalise our approach to communications and marketing
• Deepen our relationship with EREA
• Develop and implement a proactive, data-informed enrolment strategy that supports sustainable growth across all year levels
Embracing our Identity
St Mary’s College will live out Catholic faith, Gospel Spirituality and Edmund Rice Tradition with authenticity, meaning and pride. We will share and celebrate our story ensuring boys learn to serve others, promote justice, and grow spiritually throughout their journey at St Mary’s College.
To achieve this strategic priority, we will:
• Embed focus on Edmund Rice Touchstones and Charter language
• Strengthen prayer, liturgy and formation
• Grow service, justice and advocacy options
• Implement and embed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Imagining 2035: Our Shared Vision
At St Mary’s College, our Shared Vision for the next decade is guided by our deep respect for our Christian Brothers’ and Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ heritage and commitment to shaping a future that is full of hope and possibility.
Grounded in tradition and focused on the future, we will continue to offer a high-quality, well-rounded education for boys that supports their development and enables them to make a positive contribution to the broader community for generations to come.
We imagine St Mary’s College to be a place of belonging, inclusion, and interconnection - a community where all members, past and present, feel valued, respected, and supported. St Mary’s College will be defined by the excellence of our holistic educational experience that will shape boys into capable Men for Tomorrow, through the integration of faith, integrity, action, and a pursuit of excellence by constantly Striving for the Crown.
Our students will be known for their respect for others, service, and resilience. They will engage with learning that is meaningful and contemporary, delivered through pedagogical approaches attuned to boys’ education and grounded in evidence-based practice. In every classroom, learning will be engaging, challenging, and purposeful.
Our staff will be recognised for their helpful, caring, and inclusive nature and be the heart of the College’s success. Our educators will be passionate, collaborative professionals who model lifelong learning and a studentcentred approach in their work. Through understanding and expertise, they will foster a culture of mutual respect, curiosity, and joy in teaching and learning. Our leaders will be values-based and future-driven, leading and guiding the educational opportunities offered to students while promoting the wellbeing of all members of the St Mary’s College community.
Our campus will not only reflect the richness of our Catholic identity and Christian Brothers’ legacy, but also demonstrate our commitment to our Associate status of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). We commit to advancing our environmental stewardship and advocating for our First Nations heritage. The College will offer contemporary facilities to our students and demonstrate connection with Toowoomba and the Darling Downs communities, as well as a respectful acknowledgment of the enduring Indigenous story that we share.
